CONSERVATIVE parliamentary candidate Virginia Bottomley has been accused of "hijacking" a charity fete in Farnham and using it for her own political ends.

Mrs Bottomley came under fire from Maggie Bridgett, an elder and spokesperson for the Farnham United Reformed Church which organised the fete in Gostrey Meadow on Saturday.

She said that many stallholders and people involved in the fete were angered that Mrs Bottomley effectively gatecrashed the event and spent an hour using it as a political platform in the run-up to the General Election.

But Mrs Bottomley has brushed off the claims, saying she always visits the fete and that this year it was "all very good natured".

Mrs Bridgett said: "I think it's disgraceful. The fete is meant to be non-denominational and non-political but I feel she effectively hijacked it for political means.

"It's a family orientated church fete not a political platform. Many of the stallholders were furious that she used it in this way."

Mrs Bridgett said that some of the fete organisers were so angry that they found Liberal Democrat candidate Simon Cordon, who was also campaigning in the town, to let him know that Mrs Bottomley was at the fete.

He changed his schedule and spent some time at Gostrey Meadow which made the situation more "politically balanced" said Mrs Bridgett.

"We felt that she had an unfair advantage. We would have asked the Labour candidate as well but we were not sure where he was.

"Mrs Bottomley arrived at the fete at about 9.45 am with her entourage and spent more than an hour there. To use it as a political platform was very naughty."

Speaking to The Herald this week Mrs Bottomley said: "I went to the fete because I always go. My impression while I was there was that it was all very good natured.

"I've been a Member of Parliament for 17 years and I think most people appreciate that I work hard to support local events.

"I'm sorry if anyone misunderstood my visit, but I think I would be more worried if people felt that I was shunning them after supporting them for all these years."

Mrs Bottomley said she adhered to the conventions governing such visits.

If you have to pay to get in then candidates should not wear rosettes or other items advertising their party, she said, but as the Gostrey fete was free she was happy wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with 'Re-elect Virginia' and underneath, 'Conservative'.

"I made not a single party political comment during my visit," she continued, "and the whole thing was very enjoyable. I regret that anyone misinterpreted my visit."